Tickford confirms Fraser as new driver

Declan Fraser has been officially confirmed as Jake Kostecki’s replacement in the #56 Tradie Tickford Racing Ford Mustang.

As revealed by AUTO ACTION on Tuesday, Tickford decided Fraser will be their newest driver after being introduced to the team at its Campbellfield operations centre.

The 2022 Super2 champion makes the big move from leading Triple Eight Race Engineering to long-time rival Tickford, following the departure of Kostecki.

Despite winning the Dunlop Series and impressing in the Supercheap Auto wildcard at Bathurst last year, Fraser did not have a 2023 drive locked in and was unsure what was next.

But now he finds himself standing alongside James Courtney, Cameron Waters and Thomas Randle driving for one of the most winningest Supercars teams of the 21st century.

Declan Fraser (centre) will step up from Super2 to Supercars with Tickford Racing.

Fraser will be the 17th full-time driver to race for the Ford team that has operated since 2003 and said it was a thrill to realise his dream and be announced as the final full-time driver on the 2023 Supercars grid.

“It’s a pretty special feeling,” he said. 

“At the end of the Super2 season we didn’t really know where we were heading for 2023, so to get the call from Tim and everyone was pretty exciting.

“Getting from Super2 to the main game is a really tough step to make, especially from a financial perspective, so to have Tim (Edwards) and the team at Tickford Racing offer me this drive on performance is really special.”

Declan Fraser leads Zak Best in the Super 2 championship finale at Adelaide. Image: Mark Horsburgh/edge photographic

Arriving at the commencement of the new Gen3 era at the Thrifty Newcastle 500, Fraser said now is the “perfect time” to make his debut and is confident his experience at Triple Eight, plus the tools at Tickford can help him score results.

“I’ve been in a big team before, but obviously that was in a Super2 role,” he said. 

“I’m excited to see how Tickford go about their main game team and want to learn just as much as possible. I think this year is the perfect time to jump into the main game with Gen3 coming along, it levels the playing field for everyone.

“We’re a four-car team, and Tickford has a lot of experience in developing cars, of course Thomas and I will have our rookie test days as well, so we’ll have a fair bit of track time and hopefully we can put all that together and have a really strong year.”

Declan Fraser replaces Jake Kostecki in the Tradie Tickford #56 Ford Mustang. Image: Mark Horsburgh

Tickford Racing CEO and team principal Tim Edwards said he looks forward to working with Fraser in the same garage after trying to beat him throughout last year in the Super2 Series, where the Ford team fielded runner-up Zak Best.

“It’s funny how things work,” Edwards said. 

“We went into Adelaide trying to beat Declan in Super2, and here we are a few weeks later preparing him to suit up with us in the main game for 2023. 

“This sport works in strange ways sometimes, but Declan has all the qualities you look for in a young driver, so we are excited to work with him and are confident he will do a fine job for the team. 

“We are very enthusiastic about having him on board and are looking forward to getting him behind the wheel of the Tradie Ford Mustang in a few short weeks.”

Declan Fraser made his Supercars debut for Triple Eight Race Engineering at the 2022 Bathurst 1000.

Tickford Racing co-owner Rod Nash said Fraser has earned the elevation to the main game.

“We are delighted to welcome Declan to the team with Tradie Racing for the 2023 season,” Nash said. 

“Declan has come along well in Super2 over the last couple of seasons and has developed into a strong young driver, we’re very happy to have him join the team. 

“When the circumstances came about to bring a new driver into the team we decided to look for the best available, a lot like you see in a footy draft, and we feel that Declan is as primed as anyone for this opportunity, so we are excited to welcome him ahead of the 2023 season.”

Tradie will continue to support the #56 Mustang despite the driver change and all four Tickford Mustang’s will hit a race track for the first time at a Winton shakedown on February 1.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

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